Selecting Doctors & Hospitals

One step you can take to stay safe is to keep an accurate rercord of all the medications you are currently taking. View sample form.

Another important step you can take towards patient safety is to slect doctors and hospitals with good records of responsible care. That is not always easy, as there are no uniform national or state standards for reporting on the quality and responsibility of care, and hospitals and doctors may be reluctant to report their track records. But here are some resources to get you started:

HealthGrades

This site allows you to research hospitals and physicians by specialty. "More than 125 of the nation's largest employers and health plans, and more than 225 hospitals, rely on HealthGrades ratings and advisory services. HealthGrades' award-winning physician, hospital, and nursing home reports are used by more consumers than any other." View

AHRQ Checklists

AHRQ announced two new evidence-based checklists designed to help men and women understand which medical checkup tests they need to stay healthy at any age. The men's and women's versions of Your Checklist for Health show at a glance what the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regarding screening tests, preventive medicine, and other healthy lifestyle behaviors. Your Checklist for Health, available in English and Spanish, is a pocket-size brochure designed to be taken with patients when they visit their health care providers to make it easier to talk about which screening tests they might need. Both checklists provide tips about other things to do to stay healthy, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising. Select to access Men: Stay Healthy at Any Age, Your Checklist for Health and Women: Stay Healthy at Any Age, Your Checklist for Health. A print copy is available by sending an e-mail to ahrqpubs@ahrq.hhs.gov.

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Becoming a More Empowered Patient

First, we have chosen to share a video by Consumer Health Choices: Talking With Your Doctor. In it you will see how preparing for you appointment can make a difference.

We have chosen a second video by the National Patient Safety Foundation: AskMe3, to share with you. Here, you learn that there are three important questions to ask your doctor whenever you see him or her.